Footsteps of the Incas with Inti Raymi Festival

Day 1 - UK - Lima

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a one-night stay.

Day 2 - Lima - Arequipa

This morning introduces the old ‘City of Kings’, Lima’s original name and once the capital of Spanish South America. The city’s historic walls and streets reveal layers of political, cultural and economic history dating back to 1535. Explore the Old Town’s striking colonial architecture, including the Government Palace and the city’s grand historic squares. Visits include the cathedral and the Larco Herrera Museum, where exquisite gold and silver treasures from ancient Peru are displayed. This afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Arequipa.

Day 3 - Arequipa

Set beneath three snow-capped volcanoes – Chachani, Misti and Pichu Pichu – Arequipa delivers dramatic scenery at every turn. A guided city tour highlights its remarkable architecture, much of it built from white volcanic sillar stone. Discover the historic San Lázaro quarter and the spectacular Santa Catalina Monastery, Peru’s most important religious complex and home to a rich collection of paintings and sculptures. The afternoon is free, with optional excursions available.

Day 4 - Arequipa - Colca Canyon

Travel deep into the Colca Canyon, passing through colourful Andean valleys en route to Chivay. This small town sits in the southern Colca region and features a lively main square framed by terraced hillsides and distant snow-capped peaks.

Day 5 - Colca Canyon - Puno

A visit to Cruz del Condor offers the chance to watch Andean condors glide effortlessly on rising thermal currents. The vast scale of Colca Canyon is on full display here, with the summit of Ampato volcano towering more than 5,000 metres above the canyon floor. Later, continue to Puno.

Day 6 - Lake Titicaca

A full-day excursion explores Lake Titicaca, a place of striking beauty and deep legend. Revered by the Incas as the birthplace of the sun, it is South America’s largest lake. Visit the Uros villages, whose inhabitants live on floating totora-reed islands, and Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives. See a demonstration of traditional hand-weaving techniques – a snapshot of the lifestyle and culture of these Peruvian natives.

Day 7 - Puno - Cuzco

Travel from Puno to Cuzco in style, aboard the Pullman-style carriages of the Titicaca Train. This journey is about more than just getting from A to B. Windswept plains, traditional villages and soaring mountains unfold outside, while gourmet Peruvian cuisine and live music enhance the journey within.

Day 8 - Cuzco

Once the heart of the Inca Empire, Cuzco sits high in the Peruvian Andes and remains rich in history. Enjoy a guided tour of the ‘Archaeological Capital of South America’ which includes the Plaza de Armas, Cuzco Cathedral with its star-shaped ceilings, and a remarkable collection of colonial artwork, including Marcos Zapata’s The Last Supper. There is also the chance to see the semi-circular Temple of the Sun and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the massive Inca fortress overlooking the city.

Day 9 - Cuzco

Today is at leisure.

Day 10 - Inti Raymi Festival (Cuzco)

Today centres on one of Peru’s most powerful cultural celebrations: the Inti Raymi Festival. Meaning ‘Festival of the Sun’ in the Quechua language, Inti Raymi has been celebrated in Cuzco for over five centuries, marking the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The day focuses on the dramatic finale of a week-long build-up, with ceremonial performances staged at the atmospheric Inca ruins of Sacsayhuamán. Costumed dancers, musicians and actors bring ancient rituals to life through theatrical re-enactments honouring Inti, the Inca sun god. While historic sacrifices to Pachamama – goddess of fertility and harvest – are now symbolic, the sense of tradition and reverence remains strong. Throughout the day, the city resonates with the sound of drums and panpipes as colour-filled processions unfold. As evening falls, fires are lit to honour Tawantinsuyo, the vast territory of the Inca Empire, bringing the celebrations to a memorable close.

Day 11 - Cuzco - Sacred Valley

Travel to the Sacred Valley, stopping first in the village of Pisac. Here, Quechua communities from the surrounding highlands gather to trade in a colourful market filled with jewellery, textiles, ceramics and Andean instruments. Continue to Ollantaytambo, where ancient terraces, steps and niches are carved directly into the mountainside. Narrow cobbled streets and well-preserved ruins create the feeling of stepping back into the 13th century.

Day 12 - Machu Picchu

Today delivers one of the great moments of the tour, as a scenic train ride winds through the Andes to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Perched high above the Urubamba Valley and wrapped in cloud forest, the setting alone is unforgettable. A guided visit reveals an astonishing feat of engineering: stone temples, terraces, palaces and fountains fitted together with remarkable precision. Built at the height of the Inca Empire and hidden from the outside world for centuries, Machu Picchu remains a powerful and atmospheric place, made even more dramatic by its mountain backdrop.

Day 13 - Sacred Valley - Cuzco - Lima

Transfer to the airport and fly to Lima for an overnight stay.

Day 14 - Lima - In flight

Transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight to the UK.

Day 15 - UK

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.